Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Senior U.S. and Iraqi officials doubt al-Maliki
Politics
COMMENT: Al-Maliki has failed to control the main Shia militias, the Badr Corps and the Mahdi militia because they are the militant arms of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution In Iraq (SCIRI) and al-Sadr's organisation, both influential powers in the main Shia political bloc, the UIA. Al-Maliki cannot afford to lose their support. Many Sunnis consider him to be to close to Iran and Shia politicians like Abdul Aziz al-Hakim - leader of SCIRI - are against parts of al-Maliki's reconciliation project such as bringing Baathists and militant Sunnis to the political table. COMMENT ENDS.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has been in the post for four months and Iraqis say they see no improvement in security, economics or basic infrastructure. al-Maliki's pledge to disarm militias and bring them into the fold has still not been honoured to-date. American and Iraqi senior officials are beginning to question if the Shiite is strong enough to lead the country and hold it together. Many see disarming the militias as a key step to controlling the security situation. Army officers say they are still waiting for the order to disarm them. The Shia militias are suspected of sectarian killings, which they deny.
COMMENT: Al-Maliki has failed to control the main Shia militias, the Badr Corps and the Mahdi militia because they are the militant arms of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution In Iraq (SCIRI) and al-Sadr's organisation, both influential powers in the main Shia political bloc, the UIA. Al-Maliki cannot afford to lose their support. Many Sunnis consider him to be to close to Iran and Shia politicians like Abdul Aziz al-Hakim - leader of SCIRI - are against parts of al-Maliki's reconciliation project such as bringing Baathists and militant Sunnis to the political table. COMMENT ENDS.
